Kansas City Chiefs: Replacing Derrick Johnson Should Come From Within
By Ben Almquist
Outside Help
I have seen a number of veteran linebackers that Kansas City Chiefs fans want on the team. The most common, or well known, of these are James Laurinaitis, AJ Hawk, and DeMeco Ryans. It’s easy to read those names and think that they would look good in a Chiefs uniform. However, I think that course of action would be a mistake.
More from Kansas City Chiefs
- How to Bet on the Chiefs vs. Cardinals in NFL Preseason Week 2
- The 3 Most Intriguing Games on the Chiefs’ Schedule
- DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
- Fan-Favorite Locks Up Chiefs Roster Spot With Stellar Preseason Performance
- DraftKings NFL Kansas Promo: Bet $5 on Chiefs vs. Saints, Win $150 Bonus!
First of all, it would not be wise to assume that any of these players are what we remember them to be. The youngest of these players is James Laurinaitis at 30 years old. That isn’t outrageously old by any means, but he was placed on IR by the Saints earlier this year before being released. There is no guarantee towards his health.
As for AJ Hawk and DeMeco Ryans, both are 32 years old and neither has played significant football this year. It is hard to imagine that either is in football shape at this time. However, that concern pales in comparison to the fact that all of these options would have to learn the Chiefs defense in a very short amount of time. Simply put, none of them are qualified to take on the leadership role this team would need from them.
That is the driving force behind my reasoning that the Chiefs need to look within for their answer. There is nobody qualified to take on this role that we could sign. The Kansas City Chiefs have to promote from within.
Next: John Dorsey Continues To Find Talent
The Kansas City Chiefs have had to overcome a number of injuries this season. However, there may be none as significant as Derrick Johnson. Fortunately, the Chiefs have had a lot of success in developing linebackers. This may even provide a glimpse of the future for the Kansas City defense with Justin March and Ramik Wilson.